THE SYSTEM 67 



with ; and, even within that, he still leaves us 

 anxious for the explanation of a number of points 

 for example, as to the nature of the chemical 

 process which accompanies, or is the cause of, 

 segmentation. We in no way press these ques- 

 tions ; for similar demands could be made in 

 so many cases ; we only indicate that they are 

 there. What we do press is this that when an 

 authority comes forward to assure us that all the 

 processes of life, including man's highest as well 

 as his lowest attributes, can be explained on 

 chemico-physical lines, we are entitled to ask for 

 a more cogent proof of it than the demonstration, 

 however complete, of the germination of an 

 egg, caused by artificial stimulus and not by the 

 ordinary method of syngamy, even though that 

 germination may lead to the production of a 

 perfect adult form. We are entitled to ask him 

 to make clear to us not only what is happening 

 within bis system, but which is far more im- 

 portant what that system is, and how it came 

 into existence. We are entitled to ask why the 

 artificial stimulus, or the entry of the spermato- 

 zoon, produces the effects which it is claimed to 

 produce instead of any one of some score of other 

 effects which it might conceivably have pro- 

 duced. Above all we are entitled to ask why 

 there are any effects, or even why there is any 

 ovum or any spermatozoon or curious physiological 

 investigator, to give the artificial stimulus. Until 

 some light is thrown upon these things we are still 

 within the system, or merely hovering round its 

 confines, and are far away from any final or philo- 



